Electrosurgical pencil including improved controls

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical devices having a plurality of hand-accessible variable controls. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy is provided and includes a housing; an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy; and a controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the controller is configured to exert a force on the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrosurgical pencil, comprising:
 an elongated housing configured to support an electrocautery electrode extending distally therefrom; 
 at least one voltage divider network supported on the elongated housing, the at least one voltage divider network operable to electrically connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for controlling at least one of an intensity and a mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrocautery electrode; and 
 an intensity controller slidably supported on the elongated housing, wherein the intensity controller includes a biasing member having a proximal end and a distal end, the biasing member disposed from the proximal end to the distal end along a single perpendicular plane in relation to the housing such that the biasing member, as a whole, only moves in a perpendicular direction with respect to the elongated housing to exert a force on the at least one voltage divider network and to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical pencil as the intensity controller is moved relative to the elongated housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 1 , wherein the intensity controller includes a nub extending from a surface thereof. 
     
     
       3. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 2 , wherein the nub is configured to contact the at least one voltage divider network and affect the at least one voltage divider network as the intensity controller is moved relative to the elongated housing. 
     
     
       4. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 2 , wherein the intensity controller includes a spring plunger assembly configured to operatively engage a tactile feature formed in the housing. 
     
     
       5. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 4 , wherein the spring plunger assembly includes a stem and the biasing member. 
     
     
       6. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 5 , wherein the stem is disposed on a side opposite to the nub and is configured to retain an actuator. 
     
     
       7. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 6 , wherein the biasing member is configured to maintain the actuator in contact with the tactile feature formed in the elongated housing. 
     
     
       8. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 6 , wherein the actuator is disposed at one of a distal, a proximal and a substantially aligned location with respect to the nub. 
     
     
       9. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 2 , wherein the intensity controller includes a spring lever assembly configured to operatively engage a tactile feature formed in the elongated housing. 
     
     
       10. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 9 , wherein the spring lever assembly includes a lever and the biasing member for maintaining the lever in contact with the tactile feature. 
     
     
       11. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 10 , wherein the lever is pivotally connected to a body portion of the intensity controller, on a side opposite to the nub. 
     
     
       12. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
       13. The electrosurgical pencil according to  claim 12 , wherein a tip of the lever is disposed at one of a distal, a proximal and a substantially aligned location with respect to the nub. 
     
     
       14. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy, the electrosurgical device comprising:
 a housing; 
 an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy; and 
 an intensity controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the intensity controller includes a biasing member having a proximal end and a distal end, the biasing member disposed from the proximal end to the distal end along a single perpendicular plane in relation to the housing such that the biasing member, as a whole, only moves in a perpendicular direction with respect to the housing to exert a force on the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing. 
 
     
     
       15. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 14 , wherein the controller includes a nub extending from a surface thereof and being dimensioned to contact the electrical circuit. 
     
     
       16. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrical circuit is a voltage divider network capable of controlling at least one of an intensity and a mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered, and wherein the nub is configured to contact the voltage divider network and affect a change in at least one of the intensity and the mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered as the controller is moved relative to the housing. 
     
     
       17. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller includes a spring plunger assembly configured to operatively engage a tactile feature formed in the housing. 
     
     
       18. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 17 , wherein the spring plunger assembly includes a stem and the biasing member. 
     
     
       19. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 18 , wherein the stem is disposed on a side opposite to the nub and is configured to retain an actuator. 
     
     
       20. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 19 , wherein the biasing member is configured to maintain the actuator in contact with the tactile feature formed in the housing. 
     
     
       21. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 19 , wherein the actuator is disposed at one of a distal, a proximal and a substantially aligned location with respect to the nub. 
     
     
       22. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller includes a spring lever assembly configured to operatively engage a tactile feature formed in the housing. 
     
     
       23. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 22 , wherein the spring lever assembly includes a lever and the biasing member for maintaining the lever in contact with the tactile feature. 
     
     
       24. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 23 , wherein the lever is pivotally connected to a body portion of the intensity controller, on a side opposite to the nub. 
     
     
       25. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 23 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
       26. The electrosurgical device according to  claim 25 , wherein a tip of the lever is disposed at one of a distal, a proximal and a substantially aligned location with respect to the nub.